CHAPTER XIII 
ANGIOSPERMS 
130. General characters.—This is the greatest group of 
plants, both in numbers and importance. It comprises 
more than 100,000 species, and forms the most conspicuous 
part of the vegetation of the earth. Jt includes herbs, 
shrubs, and trees in profusion, and represents the plant 
kingdom at its highest development. There is the greatest 
possible variety in habit, size, and duration: from minute 
floating forms to gigantic trees; erect, prostrate, and 
climbing; aquatic, terrestrial, epiphytic; from a few days to 
centuries in duration. 
The most striking feature of the Angiosperms to the 
ordinary observer is that the majority of them produce 
what every one recognizes as flowers; and hence they are 
often spoken of as flowering plants. The production of 
flowers, however, is not the real distinction of the group, 
but it isa very prominent feature and suggests the group to 
most people better than any other character. 
The general structure of the roots, stems, and leaves of 
this great group was presented in Chapters IJ, III, and IV, 
so that there remain for consideration the flower and the 
structures associated with it. 
131. The flower.—It is impossible and unnecessary 
to define a flower, but it is not at all difficult to recognize 
ordinary flowers. They are objects of such common ex- 
perience that no one is at a loss to understand what is 
meant when the word is used. The parts of a flower may 
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